Discovering New York City’s Inner Child
There is a great xkcd comic that says, “I’m happy to grow up. But I won’t pretend that fun things aren’t still fun out of fear of looking silly.” As a newcomer to NYC living – check out my previous post on life as a commuter – I’ve found the Big Apple provides many opportunities to embrace this motto.
Most recently, a flock of young-at-hearters descended upon Union Square for a pillow fight flash mob, with thousands of people participating. And if you’re looking to grab a drink in a place more reminiscent of your childhood friend’s basement than a bar, look no further than Fat Cat in the West Village, which offers rows of ping pong and foosball tables, among other games.
But my favorite childlike exploit in the big city so far infuses my life with a weekly dose of youthful glee – Skee-Ball. Last month, I joined Brewskee-Ball, the first ever league of its kind, and every Monday night my team rolls at Williamsburg’s Full Circle Bar, whose parody of the Old Spice Superbowl commercial was a recent hit on YouTube.
With more than 400 teams in NYC, San Francisco, Austin, Charlotte and Wilmington, NC, Skee-Ball is quickly becoming the next great American bar sport. It’s even caught the attention of mainstream media: NPR’s All Things Considered covered the past “skeeson” championship, ESPN.com posted a video tutorial from one Brewskee-Ball star roller, and The New York Times was rumored to be mulling about at this past Wednesday’s match.
If you can’t make it out to Brooklyn to watch an official league match, Manhattan plays host to two great Skee-Ball bars as well – Ace Bar in the East Village and Crocodile Lounge on East 14th Street, where you can get in touch with your inner child while earning a free slice of pizza with each beer you purchase. And, if all else fails, you can always download the iPhone app.
